Recent survey’s carried by Agri.cycle a national farm waste recycling business, suggest the majority of farmers and growers have not made provision for their waste management or have completed their exemptions which they are required to do before the 15^th of May 2007, despite awareness meetings set around the country over the past 12 months most people appear to be leaving it until the last minute. This will undoubtedly put pressure on the administration required to turn the exemptions around plus waste management companies will be under pressure to provide an efficient service.

Agri.cycle have been canvassing customers and potential customers on the merit’s of green credits for farmers recycling agricultural waste “we have during the past year at Cereals, Tillage and numerous farmer meetings asked farmers to sign a petition for rewarding responsible growers who recycle their waste to accumulate points for doing so” commented David Kent. To date over 400 growers have signed the petition, “in discussion with our hub operators and leading farmers and growers we realise the majority of producers would prefer to recycle if possible, recycling is expensive compared to Landfill, but farmers realise the environmental benefits from not having farm waste Landfilled” commented Robert Moore.

 

Agi.cycle are advocating the implementation of a Waste Management Plan along the lines of existing Soil management Plan, Crop Protection plan, Nutrient management plan, and Manure management plan for ELS schemes. The plan would encompass

1)      Waste minimisation

2)      Safe storage

3)      Disposal

4)      Audit of disposal, method / destination etc, proof of recycling if needed

5)      Documentation, WTN, exemptions etc

 

Standard Waste Management Plan worth      1pt per ha

Recycled Waste in the UK                             1pt per ha   

 

Two ELS points are worth £2.00 per ha which would reward farmers and growers for Environmentally taking the right option.